Outside support or scaffold for window cleaners and the like



A. 31, 1954 P. SHEA OUTSIDE suPPoRT 0R scAFFoLn FOR WINDOW CLEANERS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov 29 1949 81,6%@ and@ Patented ug. 31, 1954A OUTSIDE SUPPORT OR SCAFFOLD FOR WINDOW CLEANERS AND THE LIKE Patrick L. Shea, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application November 29, 1949, Serial No. 129,947

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable outside support or scaffold for window cleaners and the like which is adapted to support a person exteriorly of a Window so that the Window may be cleaned, painted, or puttied and other operations such as the placing and removing of screens and storm Windows may be accomplished with ease and safety.

An important object of the present invention is to provide such a portable support or scaffold which is completely safe, which is secured rmly in piace outside a Window before the person using it enters the same, and which cannot be removed or displaced while the occupant is supported thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a support which is light in weight and which can be readily moved through the window into and out of operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a portable support or scaifold which is adapted for use with Windows of Widely varying Widths.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a portable scaffold in Which all of the parts which contact the Window or adjacent portions of the building are formed from or covered by resilient material, thereby preventing injury to the window or building.

Another object is to provide such a scaffold which will not fail through the loosening of parts.

Another object is to provide. such a scaffold which when not in use as a scaffold is rollably supported in an upright position not only to facilitate movement of the scaffold from place to place but also to enable its use in transporting other articles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear' from the accompanying description and drawings in Which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable support or scaffold embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view thereof taken from the side of the scaffold which faces the building when the device is in use.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the scaffold of the present invention in position for use, a portion of a window and adjoining building structure being shown to illustrate the manner in which the scafold is held in place.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line ll--4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 of one of the hooked arms by Which the scaiold is supported.

` cent the top edge thereof.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view partly in section of a modification in which the hooked arms are made adjustable in length.

Fig. 'i is an enlarged fragmentary view of the adjustable screw-threaded connection by which the length of the hooked arms may be adjusted.

The support or scaffold of the present invention is similar to and constitutes an improvement on the support shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 754,632 filed June 14, 1947, now Patent No. 2,492,598 issued December 27, 1949. The device of the present invention differs from the device of the prior application in providing a stronger, more rigid scaffold Which is adapted for use with Windows of any Width and which may be equipped with adjustable means for adapting the support or scaffold for use with Windows in which the sills are of greater or iess depth than the average. The scaffold of the present invention is also more easily transported, handled, and more quickly mounted for use. The scaffold of the present invention also has extensible arms to fit windows of varying depths and at the same time is free from the danger of failure through loosening of parts.

The support, indicated generally by the reference numeral 22, includes a body which comprises a bottom, indicated generally by the reference character 22, and a generally semi-cylindrical Wall or shield 24. lThe bottom 22 comprises a generally semi-circular plate 26 which is provided around its periphery with a depending .ange 2S. A sheet 3G which is preferably formed of plywood, but may be of any other suitable nonmetallic material, is provided on the upper surface of the metal plate v2t. The sheet 38 extends to the edge of plate 2S on all sides thereof and is secured to the plate by suitable means such as a plurality of spaced rivets 32. The bottom 22 is reinforced by a plurality of transversely extending T bars 34 which are provided on the under side of the metal plate 25 and are attached thereto, preferably by Welding or riveting.

The semi-cylindrical shield or Wall 2li of the scaffold 2d extends vertically upward from the bottom 22 and the bottom edge of the Wall is attached to the depending flange 28 of the metal plate 26 by Welding or other suitable means. The edges of the shield or wall 26 above the bottom 22 are rolled as shown at 36 and a hand hole 38 is provided in the center of the wall adja- In order to give an occupant freedom of movement it is preferred to round off the junction of the front vertical edges 40 of the wall 24 and the top edge thereof to provide a curved portion 42 at each side thereof.

In order to reduce the weight of the support or scaffold of the present invention, it is preferred to form the metal bottom plate 26 and the shield or wall 24 of aluminum although other materials may be used if desired. The wall 24 is reinforced, however, intermediate its top and bottom by a metal strap or band 44 which extends around its outside and is secured thereto by suitable means such as a plurality of spaced rivets 46. The band :i4 is of greater length than the outside periphery of the wall 24 and the ends 48 of the band 44- project outwardly from the vertical edges- 40- of the shield 24 in spaced, paralleli relation toeach other and are adapted to support the holding or clamping device with which the scaold 2i! is provided. Each of the free-ends 48 of the :band or strap 44 is shown as being provided with a rubber pad t which nts along the lower edgeand the lower portion of the outer face of the end 48. The rubber pads 55 arepreferably secured to thestrap ends 48 by cementing and` they serve to protect the woodwork againstaccidentor marring.

As shown in Figs. 1 5, the support or scaffold 2B is provided with pivoted arms 54 the ends of which are bent back as indicated vat 56 to form hooks 5S. Each of the pivoted arms 54 is provided at its end opposite the hook 53 with an integral extension 5S which extends substantially at right angles to the main portion of the arm 54 and to the same side of the armas the hook 55. At the outer end of the extension 5B` on each of the arms 54 there is provided a screw threaded hole which is adapted to receive one end 6D of a cross rod 62. The cross rod 62 extends freely through alined holes in the ends 48 of the band 44, the threaded end portions 6D projecting slightly beyond the band ends 48 so that the arms 54 threaded thereon will be adjacent the ends. The threads on the end portions 6l! are arranged oppositely to prevent accidental unfastening of one of the arms 54.

Between the band ends 48 the cross rod 62 carries a pair of supporting rollers 66. Each of the rollers 66 is preferably formed of rubber or other somewhat resilient material and is mounted -or free rotation on the rod 62 adjacent the inside of one of the band ends 48. The rollers are held against lateral displacement on the cross rod 62 by the band ends 4t and byV xed washers or collars 63 one of which is secured to the rod- 6-2 on the inwardly facing side of each of the rollers.

The free ends of the pivoted arms 54 beyond the hooks 55 are preferably enlarged to provide blocks which are elongated transversely of the arms 54 and may conveniently be cylindrical. Each of the blocks TG is provided with a longitudinally extending bore, and a second cross rod i2 is provided which passes through the bores in the blocks lil and is secured in :place therein by nuts i4 mounted on the threaded ends of the rods T2. Asa result of the joining of the blocks 'EG by the cross rod l2, the pivoted arms 54 which normally occupy a depending vertical position under the innuence of gravity are 'movable in unison. The cross rod 'l2 further serves to prevent either of the arms 54 from being inadvertently turned so as .to become unscrewed from the cross rod t2. Each of the arms 54, including the block on the end thereof, is preferably provided with a closely fitting coating or cover "i5 of rubber or other resilient plastic material, the purpose ofwhich will be made clear hereinafter.

Adjacenteach end of the straightfrontedge of the bottom 22 of the scaffold -20 there provided' 4 a roller 18 which is preferably formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material. Each of the rollers i8 is rotatably mounted on a pin 'i9 pro jecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the bottom 22 and located to position these rollers 'i8 to project beyond the depending iange 28.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing the scaiold 2t of the present invention is shown in position in a window as it would be used. The window casing shown in the drawing is of substantially conventional construction for a sliding sash window, and is shown as` comprising a sill 84 which is provided with an inner stop 86, and side jams 38 carrying the usual inner and outer stops 9S and Q2' which form the vertical guideways for the, sash (not shown). rI'he window casing is mounted in the usual window opening provided in the frame of a building which is shown as also provided with an outside wall 94, an inside wall 9.6 and horizontal trim members 98 and l. The scaffold4 2B, which resembles a half-barrel, is supported on theoutside of the building by means of the; rollers 63 which rest upon the window sill 84 and, is held in place by the engagement of the curvedportions or hooks 56 of the pivoted arms4 54 with. the stop 35 on the inner portion of the sill 84.

in placing the support or scaffold 28 in position for use,.the scaffold is lifted into an opened window with the open side of the support facing downwardly. This may be conveniently done while facing the open side of the scaffold 23 by grasping the wall 24 with one hand by the hand hole 38, grasping with the other hand the cross rod,` 52, and tilting the scaiold so that the bottom. 22 thereof is substantially vertical. In this positionI the pivoted arms 54 extend downwardly substantially parallel with the bottom 22 and the supporting rollers 56 may be placed on the stop 86 or the sill- 84 of lthe window and thus bear the .weight of the scaffold. The scaffold 2G may then be rolled outwardly through the window on the rollers 56` until the position of the arms 54 and rollers 68 shown in Fig. 3 is reached with the hooks 56 of the pivoted arms engaging the stops 8B. The scaiiold may then be permitted to assume the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which position it is ready for occupancy.

As willbeseen from Fig. 3, when the scaffold 2U` is mounted outside a window, it is irmly secured-inplace and there is no danger of its becoming unfastened' while in use. However, when it is. desired-to remove the support 25 from its position outsideI the window, it is merely necessary to grasp the support by the hand hole 38 and pull inwardly. This causes tilting of the support so that the bottom 22 is in substantially vertical position and the support may then be rolled inwardly on the rollers 56, the hooks 56 and blocks 'lo therebybecoming disengaged from the stop 86. The support may then be lifted from the window sill by simultaneously grasping the cross rod 62 with the other'hand.

vThe rubber or other resilient coating of the arms 54 and blocks lil and the provision of the resilient rollers 56y and i8 prevents marring of the surfaces-of the window frame or of the side of me building by the scairold. The rollers it which project outwardly and downwardly from the straight edge of the scaffold 20 also permit the scafiold to be rolled along the iioor to the window with whichit istobe used. In order to have the scaftold; maintainv a Vvertical positionv when standing on the floor, a caster 83 is provided under theV bottom 22 adjacent the rear or semi-circular edge of the bottom plate 26.

Since the scaiold 26 is held in position by the hooks 56 of the pivoted arms 54 engaging with the stops 96, the support may be used equally well with windows of any Width. The construction shown in Figs. l-5 of the drawing will be usable with most windows. Occasionally, however, windows with extremely deep or shallow sills are encountered and it may therefore be desirable to provide adjustment for the length of the pivoted arms 54. A convenient and satisfactory adjusting means is, therefore, illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 In Figs. 6 and '7 the block IDB which corresponds to the extension 58 of the pivoted arms 54 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. l-5, is shown as being threadedly mounted at one end on an end 6l) of the cross rod 62. At its free end the block E96 is provided with a threaded bore Iill in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the rod 62 within which there is screwed a threaded stem I I9 formed integrally with an arm H2 which is similar to the arm 54 and is provided with a bent portion IIA forming a hook and a block or enlarged portion H6 at its tip which may be identical with the blocks 16. As in the case of the pivoted arms 54 and the blocks l0, the arm H2 and blocks IIB are provided with a rubber or other resilient plastic coating I I8. On each side of each block |66 there is threadedly mounted on the ste-m III) a lock nut |20, which when tightened against the block |06 prevents rotation of the stem and the arm I I2. The blocks H6 of the arms H2 are connected by a cross rod 'I2 held in place by nuts 'M in the same way as the blocks '16.

The adjustment permitted by the threaded construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 makes it possible to change the eifective length of the arms H2 so as to allow the use of the support or scaffold 29 with windows in which the sills are deeper or narrower than ordinary windows. Also by the threaded connection between the arms I I2 and blocks |65, there is no danger of failure of the scaifold because of loosening of the lock nuts.

When the scaffold is mounted outside a window, the bottom 22 of the scaiold is arranged at a convenient height so that a person standing thereon may readily wash the window panes, paint the sash and exterior window trim, putty or reglaze the windows, or apply storm windows or screens. The scaffold may be entered by merely stepping over the window sill onto the bottom 22 which is of sufficient size to permit tools and materials to be placed thereon. The semi-circular wall of the scaifold surrounds the occupant and eliminates any danger of stepping off of the scaffold while working. The wall is rigidly attached to the bottom and it is reinforced by the strap or band 44 which passes around its exterior. As previously mentioned, when the scaffold is occupied, it is impossible to 'disengage it from the window and it cannot become loose and fall.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved, simple and safe scaiold or support which is easily portable and which may be readily placed in position for use or removed from a window. The scaiold is ruggedly constructed and a minimum number of parts are employed, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture and maintenance.

I claim:

1. A portable, removable window scaifold of the character described comprising a rigid body having a bottom and a side wall rising from said bottom and xed thereto, said side Wall being provided with an opening at one side, a metal arm rigidly secured to said body on each side of said opening and projecting horizontally therefrom in substantially the same direction, a supporting roller rotatably carried by each of said arms, said rollers being generally coaxial and adapted to rest on a window sill, a pair of rigid arms, each being bent adjacent its free end to form a hook adapted to engage on the inner side of said window sill to secure said scaffold in position outside said window, a block pivotally supported on each of said rst-mentioned arms and having a threaded bore, and each of said last-mentioned arms having at its other end an extension threadedly and adjustably secured in the bore of one of said blocks.

2. A portable, removable window scaffold of the character described comprising a rigid body having a bottom and a side wall rising from said bottom and iixed thereto, said side wall being provided with an opening at one side, a metal arm rigidly secured to said body on each side of said opening and projecting horizontally therefrom in substantially the same direction, a rod extending between and secured to said arms, a supporting roller rotatably mounted on each end of said rod adjacent said arms and being of a size l to project downwardly iroin said arms to rest on a window sill, and an arm mounted on each end of said rod adjacent the corresponding one of said rst arms to swing about the axis of said rod, each of said last arms being provided with a bent portion adapted to engage on the inner side of said window sill to secure said scaffold in position outside said window.

3. A portable, removable window scaffold of the character described comprising a rigid body having a bottom and a side wall rising from said bottom and xed thereto, said side wall being provided with an opening at one side, a metal arm rigidly secured to said body on each side of said opening and projecting horizontally therefrom in substantially the same direction, a horizontal rod journalled at its opposite ends in said arms and having its ends projecting outwardly therefrom, a supporting roller journalled on each end of said rod adjacent and between said arms and being of a size to project downwardly from said arms to rest on a window sill, and a pair of arms xed to the ends or^ said rod projecting from said rst arms, each of said last arms being provided with a bent portion adapted to engage on the inner side of said window sill to secure said scaffold in position outside said window.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,295,453 Edland Feb. 25, 1919 1,458,744 Brewster June 12, 1923 1,508,699 Ketelsen Sept. 16, 1924 2,491,621 Roos Dec. 20, 1949 2,492,598 Shea Dec. 27, 1949 

